PolyU Summer Programme for Secondary School Students 2022

Around 80 Form 5 students from 34 local secondary schools participated in the PolyU Summer Programme organized by the School on 3 August and 10 August 2022. Participants learned basic vision science and eye health knowledge through the interactive sessions. They visited the Optometry Clinic, Optometry Research Clinic, and PolyU's innovative teaching and learning facilities. At the same time, the School's academic faculty members and resident optometrists shared their experiences, which enabled participants to have the idea of the new launched Bachelor of Science (Hons) Scheme in Optometry and consider the pathway of future professional development. 18 participants further joined the extended activity on 13 August 2022. After the training, they collaborated with our optometry students to provide vision screening services to around 40 beneficiaries at the Hong Kong Federation of Handicapped Youth. The extended activity aims to allow participants to contribute their skills and enhance public awareness of eye health in the community. PolyU Summer Programme 2022 [Photo Gallery] 

Prof. To Chi-ho awarded The Third InnoStars Award

Congratulations to Prof. To Chi-ho, Chair Professor of Experimental Optometry; Henry G. Leong Professor in Elderly Vision Health; Head of School of Optometry and Director of Research Centre for SHARP Vision, on receiving The Third InnoStars Award.  Presented by Our Hong Kong Foundation, Prof. To and the other eight outstanding individuals received the Award from HKSAR Chief Executive Mr John Lee on 29 July 2022. The Award recognized Professor To Chi-ho’s enduring commitment to safeguarding people’s eye health through innovative vision science research and myopia control inventions. After 20 years of researching into myopia and overcoming countless difficulties, he invented the Defocus Incorporated Soft Contact (DISC) and co-developed the Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segment (DIMS) spectacle lens, which earned him international awards for effectively slowing down the progression rate of myopia among school children by 60%.  

Prof. George Woo awarded PolyU University Fellowship

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) conferred the title of University Fellow on Prof. George Woo, Emeritus Professor & Senior Advisor, School of Optometry, in recognition of his significant contributions to the University and community. Eight outstanding University Fellow recipients, including Prof. Woo, were warmly greeted by PolyU’s President, Professor Jin-Guang Teng, and other senior staff members of the University at the PolyU University Fellowship Conferment Ceremony 2021/22 held on 8 July 2022. Since its introduction in 2000, PolyU has conferred University Fellowships on 128 distinguished persons. PolyU University Fellowship Conferment Ceremony 2021/22 [Photo Album]   Professor George Woo Professor George Woo, Emeritus Professor and Senior Advisor of PolyU’s School of Optometry, is the Father of Optometry in Hong Kong and a pivotal figure in eye health and vision science globally. He has substantially raised the standards of optometric education and eye care services in Hong Kong. His commitment to philanthropy and volunteer work earned him the Hong Kong Humanity Award in 2020. Professor Woo and his brother Dr Victor Woo are the proud donors of PolyU’s K. B. Woo Family Endowed Professorship in Optometry.

Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR) officially launched to showcase leading role for Hong Kong in Eye Health Research

PhD Student Chan Kin-ho received Best Student Presenter Award

Congratulations to Mr Ken Chan Kin-ho, PhD student of the School, who received the Best Student Presenter Award for outstanding performance in Research Seminars in Semester 2, AY2021/22 for his presentation about “Comparing the corneal power profile and conventional topographic powers in representing the peripheral refractive profile in myopic children”. Mr Chan’s research output was also presented in the poster session at the 2022 ARVO Virtual Annual Meeting. The School organized the Research Seminar Series twice per academic year to encourage academic exchange among peers and provide research students with presentation opportunities showcasing their research output.

RCSV-SO Joint Distinguished Lecture

RCSV-SO Joint Distinguished Lecture - “How the Baby Learns to See: Critical Periods Re-visited” was held on 20 April 2022. We were excited to see around 280 optometrists, practitioners, academic staff and students from 14 countries and regions participate in the lecture. Distinguished lecturer, Prof. Daphne Maurer, is a Distinguished University Professor from McMaster University in Canada. She generously shared her knowledge and research findings with the audience. The lecture was moderated by Dr Kee Chea-su, Associate Director of Research Centre for SHARP Vision; Associate Head and Associate Professor of School of Optometry, PolyU. Newborns have minimal vision, but they are already learning to see. By using the natural experiment result, Prof. Maurer explained that children born with dense cataracts could see after the surgery of removing cataracts in infancy and given compensatory contact lenses. She highlighted that early-stage vision is critical. Once it is missed, it could cause deficits such as acuity vision and face processing. Perceptual development is driven by visual experience and perturbed by imbalances between the eyes or between the senses. Prof. Maurer finally shared that a 40-hour specialized intervention helped improve the visual acuity of some adults with visual deficits. The lecture ended with stimulating questions, fruitful discussions and interaction between Prof. Maurer and the participants in the Q&A session. The audience found the lecture enlightening.

Optometry Alumnus receives the FHSS Outstanding Alumni Award

Congratulations to optometry alumnus Prof. Susana Chung who received the “Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Faculty of Health and Social Sciences 2022” in recognition of her remarkable academic achievements and invaluable contributions. Prof. Chung is also the awardee of the Outstanding Alumni Award in Scholarly Achievement of PolyU School of Optometry 2022.  

PolyU Research Postgraduate Summer School 2022

PolyU is organizing a Research Postgraduate Summer School from 13 July to 27 July 2022.  The Summer School not only serves as a PhD tasting programme for the participants to experience wide elements of research studies but also provides them with an opportunity to get familiar with the support that PolyU will offer. During the Summer School, students will have opportunities to meet professors and researchers, attend workshops to learn different research-related skills, interact with students and alumni for experience sharing, and prepare their research proposal for presentation at the end of the Summer School. Excellent potential candidates will be given a conditional offer of admission with the support of various scholarships including the PolyU Presidential PhD Fellowship Scheme (PPPFS). Successful applicants will be awarded a HK$5,000 Summer School Scholarship upon the completion of the Summer School programme. Register Now! The application [click HERE] is open from 15 March to 18 April 2022.  For further information, please visit https://www.polyu.edu.hk/gs/news-and-events/rpg-summer-school/. 

Precautionary Measures against the COVID-19 Disease in Optometry Clinic and Community Eye Care Centres

In view of the pandemic situation, the School of Optometry has tightened its precautionary measures in the Optometry Clinic on PolyU campus, the Sik Sik Yuen – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Optometry Centre (Wong Tai Sin Teaching and Learning Centre), and the Integrative Community Health Centre (Lai King) with effect from 5 March 2022 (Saturday) for protecting the health of patients: All staff members working in the above-mentioned venues are required to be tested negative for COVID-19 disease by rapid antigen test every morning before they can come to work. All the above-mentioned venues are disinfected by diluted household bleach every day.   (中文版通告)

Temporary Change of Service Hours of PolyU Optometry Clinic

Due to the current evolving pandemic situation, the PolyU Optometry Clinic will have early closure at 5:00pm from 1 to 31 March 2022. We are sorry for the inconvenience caused.